Cosmetic tattoo aftercare and numbing cream: how to get the best results
Believe in Beautiful Blog
Whether you’re booking Feather Touch Brows, Powder Brows, Lip Blush or Eyelash Enhancer, your artist’s skill is only part of the story. How you prepare beforehand and care for your skin afterwards makes a real difference to how your colour heals and how long it lasts.
Cosmetic tattooing places pigment into the upper layers of the skin, so the way your skin heals affects how evenly that colour settles. A little care at each stage helps you get crisp, even results that last.
Here’s how to get the best possible results, step by step.
Start with a free consultation
Every cosmetic tattoo treatment starts with a free consultation. Your artist will talk through the look you’d love, check your skin and your brows or lips, and ask about your health history, medications and skincare. It’s also the perfect time to ask questions.
Cosmetic tattooing isn’t recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you’re booking Lip Blush and have ever had cold sores, speak to your doctor or pharmacist about prevention before your appointment.
Choosing between brow styles? Our guide to Feather Touch vs Powder Brows compares the look of fine, hair-like strokes with a soft, shaded finish.
Order your numbing cream ahead of time
Most clients use a topical anaesthetic (numbing cream) to stay comfortable during their appointment. Ours is supplied by our partner, Tugun Compounding Pharmacy. You order it directly through their topical anaesthetics form.
Order it well before your appointment so it arrives in time, and follow the instructions provided with it. If you have any questions about using it, the pharmacy team and your artist can help.
Two weeks before: how to prepare
- Protect the area from the sun for 2 weeks before. Sunburnt or tanned skin isn’t ideal for tattooing.
- Pause retinol on the area for 2 weeks before.
- Brows: avoid waxing, tinting and anti-wrinkle treatments in the brow area for 2 weeks before.
- Avoid alcohol for 24 hours before your appointment.
- Let your artist know about any changes to your health or medications since your consultation.
Aftercare while you heal
The first couple of weeks are the most important for your results. The surface usually heals in around 7 to 14 days. During that time:
- Keep the area clean and dry.
- Apply your aftercare balm exactly as your artist shows you.
- Don’t pick, scratch or rub. Any flaking is part of healing, and picking can pull colour out.
- Avoid swimming, saunas, heavy sweating and sun for 10 to 14 days.
- Skip makeup on the area while it heals.
Don’t worry if the colour looks stronger than you expected at first. It softens as it heals and settles over around 4 to 6 weeks, so wait before judging your final result.
Your perfection visit at 6 to 8 weeks
Your perfection visit is where your artist checks how the colour has settled, then refines the shape and fills any areas that didn’t hold as much colour. Everyone’s skin heals a little differently, so this visit is an important part of the process.
| Treatment | Initial | Perfection | Refresh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feather Touch Brow | $550 | $200 | $450 |
| Powder Brow | $550 | $200 | $350 |
| Lip Blush | $600 | $200 | $350 |
| Eyelash Enhancer | $400 | $150 | $200 |
Having more than one treatment? Packages include any two initial visits for $999, any two perfection visits for $349, any three initial visits for $1,299 and any three perfection visits for $549. See them all on our cosmetic tattooing page.
Keeping your colour fresh for longer
Cosmetic tattoos usually last around 1 to 3 years. A few simple habits can help yours look its best for as long as possible:
- Wear SPF every day. Sun exposure is one of the main reasons colour fades.
- Keep retinol and acids away from the area. Apply active skincare carefully around your brows or lips.
- Mention your tattoo to your skin therapist before facials or peels, so they can work around it.
- Book a refresh when the colour starts to soften, rather than waiting until it has faded completely.
Five tips for better Feather Touch Brow results
Feather Touch Brows can take your brows from barely there to beautiful with fine, hair-like strokes. Because those strokes are so fine, these habits matter even more:
- Bring inspiration to your consultation, along with honest notes on how you fill in your brows now.
- Leave your natural brows alone in the 2 weeks before, so your artist can see and work with your own hair pattern.
- Leave flakes alone while you heal, however tempting they are.
- Never skip your perfection visit. It’s where fine strokes are refined and balanced.
- Make SPF a daily habit to help keep strokes crisp and natural-looking for longer.
Between tattoo visits, a Beauty Pass can take care of the rest of your beauty routine. You pay a set amount each month and get extra credit to spend on lashes and brows, waxing, IPL, spray tanning or massage. For example, the Maintenance pass is $99 a month for $125 credit, with a 6-month minimum commitment.
Ready to book? Start with your free cosmetic tattoo consultation. Book online or visit one of our six Brisbane clinics.
